11 Oct 2010

New Zealand women fail with tactics in road race

7:59 am on 11 October 2010

The New Zealand women's cycling team ran out of puff and were shut out in the final sprint and missed out on a medal in the Commonwealth Games road race.

The New Zealanders' tactics to try and break up the field throughout the 112 kilometre race didn't pay off with Joanne Kiesanowski, who won silver in the women's points race, the only rider to feature in the pack sprint finishing in fourth.

The race was won by Australian Rochelle Gilmore who pipped England's Elizabeth Armitstead for gold, with Australian Chloe Hosking third.

Australia have now won 13 of the 15 cycling gold medals on offer at the Games.

Kiesanowski finished just two lengths outside a bronze medal while Melissa Holt and Kaytee Boyd were not far back in ninth and 11th.

In a group just eight seconds back were Rushlee Buchanan in 23rd place, Catherine Cheatley 25th and Linda Villumsen 26th.